Editor's note: The original version of this column was published Sept. 17, 2013.

Lately I've been paying more attention to how others react to what I say and do. Actually, I've been trying to determine how much of what I experience from others comes from my initial actions toward them, which would mean I wind up creating much of my own reality.

Conclusion: It really does pretty much all begin with me.

The other day in traffic, I stopped to let a waiting motorist into line. My initial inclination was to keep forging ahead, leaving the patient lady in the SUV to sit for as long as it took her to find a hole.

You probably know the attitude: "Hey, I'm a busy person with places to go, so you can wait ..."

But this time I didn't. She smiled, waved and drove down the street several blocks until I saw her brake lights pop on as she slowed to allow another waiting driver into our line.

Perhaps her thoughtfulness had nothing to do with me. But I suspected my action in some small way influenced hers.

Some might call this the "pay it forward" concept to living together as a species. That's where you do good for strangers and they........

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